It takes four days for me to be cleared from the hospital. Professional life Siphons work fast as hell. I scratch my chest. My burn mark from Nebula is still there. I could have had it removed, but I think it's best to keep it. A reminder of the sacrifice made for me. My eardrums apparently took some time to heal, but they had to completely restructure my vocal cords. My voice is slightly deeper, and it's hard to raise it above an aggravated growl. I glance down at my right arm. The black veins in my arm have faded. Only slightly, and no one else would notice, but I do. Maybe the core is starting to have an effect.

I look out the lobby window with a grimace. Hundreds of reporters wait outside the hospital doors. It seems I've become a celebrity of sorts. I don't know the details, mostly because I was comatose for the last three days. I lost too much blood, and thanks to my half-dead body, it couldn't produce enough to keep my mind conscious.

My nurse approaches me, an envelope thick with papers in her hands. "You are now discharged, Mr. Stone." I nod and thank her, taking the envelope. I have to give this to command. I take a deep breath, adjusting the strap holding my sword's sheath. I check over myself one more time. I'm wearing plain jeans and a white shirt with my boots. Too bad only my left armguard remains from my armor set. I toss it in the trash as I leave.

Outside, the reporters rush me, "Stone, how does it feel to be the leading diver with sixty-five percent of the vote?" I ignore him as another forces a small black box in my face, "Now that you have three marks, what is your next move?" I bump past him as three more take his place. Lights flash around me, and mics and cameras are shoved into my face. It's getting hard to breathe. Instinctively, my hand goes to Nebula as I'm overwhelmed, but a voice booms over the crowd before I can do anything.

"IF EVERYONE WILL PLEASE MAKE A PATH!" Silence. The reporters and cameramen move to the side as Alexander Bell walks up to me, his sword by his side. He smiles at me, his insane pressure dialed back to a nine instead of the eleven it usually is. The pressure isn't natural. I realize that now, he must have a core that emanates from it. He's also less intimidating now that I've seen real combat, but only slightly. As I stare at him, the smile doesn't reach his eyes. He's pissed.

Bell steps to the side, sweeping his hand towards a slick gold floater. The nose is elongated, and the entire side slides up as I approach. Inside, a luxurious interior decorates the small room with four leatherbound chairs facing each other. I sit in one as Bell sits opposite of me. The door closes, and we take flight, the entire side of the floater clearing up, giving me an impressive view of the bustling city.

We sit in silence for what feels like an eternity. Finally, I have enough as I shift in my seat, "So, are we going to some discrete place where you can kill me off?" I can't hide the contempt in my voice.

Bell stares at me in surprise before busting out laughing. It's a rough laugh, almost as if there's no emotion behind it. He lays his sword across his lap, the black sheath with the red dragon stitched into it, glaring at me, "You have balls, Stone. That much is clear." I don't reply as he pauses. "And Zack did keep up his end of the deal, so no, you are not in any danger, not that I would be able to do anything. After all, you are the most popular diver since Zack's debut."

"What's happened since I've been in the hospital?"

Bell lets out a deep sigh, sinking into his chair. "A lot. For your achievements, you have received three marks and a crown."

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I lean forward, engaged, "Three? And what's a crown?"

Bell hands me a tablet from beside his seat. I tap it, looking at a picture of myself. "This is your public profile. Civilians can look divers up and view their achievements here, as well as their battles and discoveries. It also acts as said divers' social media profiles, allowing you to interact with the civilian population—a fan club of sorts."

I look through it. Beside my name are three stars, and above it is a golden crown. Multiple tabs line the side. Kills, battles, accolades, sponsorships. I look at Bell, confused, "What is this stuff?"

Bell's jaw clenches as he stares out the window, "That, Silen, is your legacy. It documents everything about you, from your height to the weapons and cores you have, to the Shells you have defeated." He looks me in the eye, "That is your life as long as you live in this place, and it is the sole reason you are still alive."

I look back down at the profile. At the bottom is a tab that says media. I tap it, and thousands of messages flood the screen. "This guy's really just a secondary and completely lapped Zack." Another message, "Hi. I'm not sure if you have read this, but you are my greatest inspiration. If you can do this, what's gonna stop me from trying?" I continue to read as a chill creeps up my spine. These people. They worship me. I look at Bell in horror, the gravity of my situation coming to light.

He looks away, "Yes, you seem to have realized. Becoming a diver is something every person in the city wants. And suddenly, an unknown, weak secondary has outshone the biggest star in the industry. Divers are usually viewed as some sort of god. We have carefully maintained that image to dissuade people from trying to attempt the schooling needed. Only the best of the best can become divers. But you."

He shakes his head, "You have shattered that concept. Now, people will try to be divers in droves, and they will die in droves. Right now, you are the most important person in the entire city."

I look out the window. I've seen what the diver certification test is. People will die. And those that don't pass the school will be crushed. Hell, I basically cheated my way into becoming one. "So this is why secondaries never live to tell the tale."

Bell sighs, "Indeed. Even if you had managed to make it back, none of us expected you to receive a crown. It is unprecedented."

"What's a crown."

Bell holds out his hand, and I give him back the tablet, "A crown is given to the most valuable member of an expedition. Usually, there are twelve people per expedition: the scouts, the expedition team, and the extraction team. For a mission like yours, there would usually be even more, but none were available. Receiving a crown is the greatest honor a diver can have. For example, Zack has forty-six, the most in our industry's history."

"Beyond that, you also received three marks. One for the Turt, Fairy, and the still unknown third creature you faced."

I shake my head, "I don't deserve those last two. If Azu hadn't hit the Fairy before it met me, I would have died, and Hearon is the only reason the cat thing stayed in place."

"It is not my place to make that decision. A separate board does it before my team even sees the footage." Right, Azu did say something about that.

"So what now?" The floater slows down, and I realize we've arrived at my apartment.

"First, you will be relocated to another location. We may be in an off-limits area for civilians, but that has not stopped them in the past. After that, our media and financial teams will meet with you. Most likely to sign advertising contracts and work on public etiquette." He runs a hand over his face. He looks tired. "Then you will be out of my hair for a few weeks."

The door opens as the floater lands. A line of six people stand in front of my building, right hand balled over their hearts. "I will call you when you are needed. Azu informed me of your library memories and the return of some of them. We will need to find it." He stands, walking with me outside and clapping a hand on my shoulder, "You know how to get to it. Your next job will be finding a way back in." He smiles, but it is that fake version.

I look away. The library, huh? I knew they'd probably want to find it, but I didn't think it would be so soon. I sigh. It was gonna have to happen eventually. I nod and turn the people lined up. A female with short brown hair and an office outfit steps forward.

"Sir. We are to help you move. Please grab your important items; we have much to do." I sigh. This is my life now.